Some of the best fictional characters are extraordinarily intelligent, brave, or powerful. Others… aren’t. An everyman character — also known as an everyperson, girl/boy next door, or good neighbor — is as ordinary as can be. If you met them at the pub or on the bus, you wouldn’t think anything of it.
Arthur Dent, Ron Weasley, and Bridget Jones are all examples of literary everymen (or “everywomen,” as it were). But what exactly defines the everyman archetype? Let’s take a closer look.
The everyman is the reader’s proxy
Because they aren’t exceptional in any way, the everyman is highly relatable. They could be us — and their (re)actions are similar to our own. When thrust into unusual situations, they don’t react with bravery and confidence, but with fear and self-doubt… at least at first.
The reader accesses the story through the everyman. In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Arthur Dent is a perfectly normal human being who suddenly finds himself navigating a world of Babel fish, infinite improbability drives, and hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional mice. The fact that Arthur is just as confused as we are helps us process Douglas Adams’ absurd universe.
A secondary character can also be an everyman (indeed, secondary characters are often written this way to create contrast with the protagonist). In Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, Dr. John Watson shares our awe of Sherlock Holmes and his abilities. Since Watson is an educated man himself, we feel okay about not being clever enough to make the same deductions as the detective.
They want what we want…
As the reader’s stand-in, the everyman has ordinary and universal desires. Typically, they want security, a sense of belonging, and meaningful relationships with other people — all things to which the majority of us aspire.
In Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly, Greta is an everywoman who wants to find love, keep her job, and maybe be a little bit cooler. She’s no different than most people in their 20s and beyond.
Greta also serves as something of a foil to her brother, Valdin (the book’s other main character), who’s more angsty and negative. The story is told from their dual shifting perspectives, with Valdin and Greta narrating alternate chapters.
Whenever Greta’s voice takes over, we’re reminded of how familiar and relatable she is — like in this passage when she’s talking to a crush at a party:
I smile at her with my teeth. She’s smiling too, but she keeps her teeth hidden. Playing it cool, I see. What can I do that’s cool? I hang my hand off one of the cupboard handles above my head, but this causes it to open and I nearly fall over. Cups! Here are some cups… Now that I have the cups, I don’t need to be here anymore, but I’m still looking at the girl.
But they should also be unique
Of course, Greta is also a unique individual with her own quirks and preferences. She likes foreign languages, literature, and karaoke, and she thinks Bucharest is a much better place to live than London or Berlin.
Just as no two real people are exactly alike, no two everypeople should be the same. Ordinary does not equal boring — nor do hobbies, interests, and unusual mannerisms stop a character being relatable. As long as you wouldn’t be wholly surprised to meet them in real life, you can give your everyman a bit of personality.
To illustrate this further, here are some examples of “quirky” traits in famous everypeople:
- Arthur Dent loves tea and sandwiches, so much so that he eventually becomes Resident Sandwich Maker on the planet Lamuella;
- Bridget Jones obsessively records her eating, drinking, and smoking habits, always planning to improve her health… tomorrow;
- Jim Halpert from The Office delights in pulling elaborate pranks on his coworker Dwight.Â
If you’re looking for a few mild quirks to give your everyman (or woman or person), check out this post for 150+ more ideas!
They’re a good person at heart…
Whoever your everyman is, make sure their personality is likeable through and through. The everyman should be basically a decent person, exhibiting positive traits we all (like to think we) share. For example, the everyman should be demonstrably compassionate, grounded, hard-working, and accepting.
Ron Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is a genuinely likeable everyman. He's friendly, doesn’t judge people by their wealth or lineage, and (mostly) stands up for what is right.
He’s also incredibly loyal to Harry and Hermione and whatever quest they’re on — as shown at the end of The Philosopher’s Stone, when he sacrifices himself in the magical chess match:
“Yes …” said Ron softly, “it’s the only way… I’ve got to be taken.”
“NO!” Harry and Hermione shouted.
“That’s chess!” snapped Ron. “You’ve got to make some sacrifices! I’ll make my move and she’ll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!”
“But –”
“Do you want to stop Snape or not?”
“Ron –”
“Look, if you don’t hurry up, he’ll already have the Stone!”
There was nothing else for it.
But they have ordinary flaws
Nevertheless, Ron does have his flaws: the occasional blunt remark or jealous episode brought on by his insecurities. (Think about his fight with Harry in The Goblet of Fire, when Ron gets jealous that Harry is yet again the center of attention in the Triwizard Tournament.) These weaknesses don’t stop us liking him on balance, though; after all, we aren’t perfect ourselves.
Each and every everyperson needs flaws to keep them realistic and relatable. But their weaknesses should be ordinary — for example, anxiety, low self-esteem, or being too much of a people-pleaser.
These flaws add complexity to the everyman, making them a more believable, multidimensional character. Just make sure their flaws aren’t fatal; otherwise they go from being a standard personality with minor problems to a tragic figure who’s doomed by the narrative.
For more context on the different types of character flaws, how to apply them in your story, and good (minor) ones to choose, check out this post on the subject.Â
They’re an inspiration — or a cautionary tale
One more way to add complexity is through character growth. Most everypeople are an inspiration to the masses; they overcome their weaknesses and, eventually, achieve remarkable things. You might even think of the everyman not merely as a static character or sidekick, but as someone with the potential to become a hero in their own right.
Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a perfectly ordinary “everyhobbit” who’s forced into a heroic quest — but he ends up becoming much braver and more resourceful as a result. The everyman’s transformation inspires us and helps us believe that maybe we, too, could overcome our flaws and fears to achieve something extraordinary.
However, not all everypeople are positive role models. Walter White from the TV show Breaking Bad starts off as a normal chemistry teacher with relatable problems, but undergoes a negative character arc as pride and desperation get the better of him — and his unfortunate fate serves as a warning of what might happen if we follow in his footsteps.
Whatever the lesson, the everyman archetype endures because it speaks to readers. Superheroes are cool, but sometimes what we really need is someone who reminds us of ourselves and shows us what we might be capable of in another life — one we fortunately don’t actually have to live!
